Tool tube: Looks like he uses the popular agri-supply tube. The clamp looks like a clean application. For the price at agri supply, I ordered 6 of 'em for my family's machines. Chop the mounts off as he mentions and hit the graphics with some brake cleaner and it wipes right off. I ordered an exhaust clamp to mount it with. The one linked looks like a cleaner set up from the photos.

Eakins - I saw your Utah motorcycle map for sale at the lodge in Zion Natl Park. Very nice product. Looks well researched and extremely useful. I'll be buying your complete set for some upcoming trip planning. I'll also look forward to your input in the planning on my 2014 ride.... http://www.cannonballproject.com/content/

Sun - my guess is a combo of rattle can engine paint, regular paint and possibly some powder coating?

I had one of mine snapped at a shop. Incidentally, that was the last time I took my bike to a shop. I'm not the worlds greatest mechanic but when I work on my own bike, at least I know the job is being done with care and attention.

__________________
__________________Across the country on the kindness of strangers and the strangeness of friends (and a DR650).

Tool tube: Looks like he uses the popular agri-supply tube. The clamp looks like a clean application. For the price at agri supply, I ordered 6 of 'em for my family's machines. Chop the mounts off as he mentions and hit the graphics with some brake cleaner and it wipes right off. I ordered an exhaust clamp to mount it with. The one linked looks like a cleaner from the photos.

[QUOTE=Chill;20147192]There must be some sort of heat resistant paint for this. /QUOTE]

I have painted a few bikes (and their parts engines, exhaust, etc.) there is lots of good stuff to paint with, but I have found that 3-4 coats of VHT high temp engine paint (you can get it on amazon) then an hour or so in a toaster over at 225F (go get one at a thrift store, don't use the one in your house unless you want a divorce - which might not be a bad thing) makes a super tough surface (you have to take off dips with a metal file). Their roll bar paint looks a lot like powder-coat if you put about 7 or 8 coats on (but it will chip if it gets hit hard). I've never found that wheel paint that people use to be very strong, it always scratches and chips. If you have ALL the plastic off, use can use a propane heater to harden VHT engine paint. Obviously, the engine will cure itself with a ride for an hour or so.

The frame is the hard part. You can't put it in an oven, and usually taking off that much plastic is a PITA.

Front axle clamp bolts/nuts 8-10nm. No more.
And if they didnt replace the races with the bearings (and thats the most difficult part of the job) they just wasted your time and money. At this point your races should like clean, meaning no scarring. If you see dark, segmented scars, they are the old ones and will ruin your new stem bearing in short order.

of course but come on. can't the man make a few bucks for his clean up work on the tool tube? it's $45 for the complete bolt on package & his clamp is very well built. it's the best tool-tube based setup i've seen. i've ridden hard with it for over a year and it's heavy and packed w/ tools. the clamp still looks new and is rock solid. look at his drz400 skid plate work. this guy has incredible skills. works for me. http://www.weld86motoparts.com/Suzuki-DRZ.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrophyHunter

Tool tube: Looks like he uses the popular agri-supply tube. The clamp looks like a clean application. For the price at agri supply, I ordered 6 of 'em for my family's machines. Chop the mounts off as he mentions and hit the graphics with some brake cleaner and it wipes right off. I ordered an exhaust clamp to mount it with. The one linked looks like a cleaner set up from the photos.

Eakins - I saw your Utah motorcycle map for sale at the lodge in Zion Natl Park. Very nice product. Looks well researched and extremely useful. I'll be buying your complete set for some upcoming trip planning. I'll also look forward to your input in the planning on my 2014 ride.... http://www.cannonballproject.com/content/

Sun - my guess is a combo of rattle can engine paint, regular paint and possibly some powder coating?

of course but come on. can't the man make a few bucks for his clean up work on the tool tube? it's $45 for the complete bolt on package & his clamp is very well built. it's the best tool-tube based setup i've seen. i've ridden hard with it for over a year and it's heavy and packed w/ tools. the clamp still looks new and is rock solid. look at his drz400 skid plate work. this guy has incredible skills. works for me. http://www.weld86motoparts.com/Suzuki-DRZ.html

Sure, he can make a profit, but it's nice to know just how easy it is to do it your self. BTW, IMHO, Skunkwizard's Tool Tube is FAR better. Sadly I don't think he makes them for sale.

Why do I like it?
1. It Oval, fits the space better, I mount a soft pannier there so needs to be low profile like the tube shown.
2. It locks. I suppose some sort of lock can be rigged on the Agri supply tubes ... not sure what would be best. But a LOCK is important if you travel.

Basically what I want in a tool tube is something very similar to stock .. but
deeper, longer. I like to keep my soft bags as INBOARD as possible, not sticking way out like so many do. Inboard, low and forward is what works.
Check out Walter Colebatch's comments on this vital part of weight distribution so many seem to neglect.

I'm guessing that if Skunkwizard's tube was for sale ... it would have to cost in the $100 range?

of course but come on. can't the man make a few bucks for his clean up work on the tool tube? it's $45 for the complete bolt on package & his clamp is very well built. it's the best tool-tube based setup i've seen. i've ridden hard with it for over a year and it's heavy and packed w/ tools. the clamp still looks new and is rock solid. look at his drz400 skid plate work. this guy has incredible skills. works for me. http://www.weld86motoparts.com/Suzuki-DRZ.html

You're right, it is an option. I wasn't begrudging the man for making a buck or two. I usually support the cottage industries whenever I can....like when I bought one of Skunkwizards tool boxes after he did a run of 'em. I have it for longer trips.

Didn't mean to offend. I've taken many cost saving tips from this thread and also spent more on my DR than it will ever be worth....just trying to offer a solution to folks, like me, who have to be more budget concious.

And yeah, that's a stout DRZ skid plate. He's popping up on Stromtrooper with a skidplate option too. I'm anxious to see the results.